Geof,
1. Start with respect. Respect the artist as a human being who is about to open their soul and expose their weaknesses to a perfect stranger. We all have insecurity, but being under the microphone (scope) brings an artist's worst nightmares to daylight. Does my song suck? Does my voice suck? Am I a looser? Should I go back to working at the gas station?
We are on a relationship ladder with each artist and producer we work with. When you are just starting out, everybody is above you so it's pretty easy to feel respectful. It actually becomes harder, the better we get and the more experience we have. Eventually you will be a wizzened old pro with a Grammy nomination and some kid will walk in with his "beats" on cassette and want to make a record. Thats when it will be most important to respect your client.
2.+3. For the last 20 years, before the session starts I have asked what level of comment the artist wants from me as engineer. Before that, I just jumped in with both feet, eager to engineer, produce, arrange and sing for every band that came through the door. Eventually this enthusiasm (meddling) brought me a spanking at the hands of my favorite band, so... now I ask.
I used to work with a guy who would snicker at every mistake an artist would make, but would not lift a finger to help them tune their instruments. The snickering was subconscious and the not lifting a finger was his way of not meddling. The end result was that no one wanted to work with him.
From an engineering perspective, nurturing the creative process can be a result of always thinking of the artist first. Get the headphone mix BEFORE getting your monitor mix. Take lunch when it is a good time to break, not when you are hungry. Show your respect for the artist currently at the mic and the rest of the band will follow suit. They will have confidence that when they are out there, you will take good care of them as well.
STAY OUT of political infighting and political mixing. DO NOT TAKE SIDES. If there are two strong personalities trying to force a mix in two directions, stop, ask the band to assign a emmisary to you (usually the bass player) and then have them decide their issues before bringing their decision to you.
Be flexible. Do not make dogmatic demands on your clients. Engineers are servents to the artist and the producer. I truly believe that if you try to force the artist out of the mix session, you will get exactly what you are asking for. You will be alone, attempting to survive in an art form that requires collaboration between people.
Hope this helps.
Best Regards,
Bill